Ankita Bhandari’s father speaks to the media as he detained by Delhi Police at India Gate after an overnight protest against the appointment of BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam as the Governor of Sikkim, in New Delhi on October 15, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Congress in Uttarakhand on Thursday (October 15, 2026) staged a protest outside the Lok Bhawan here demanding that the appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Sikkim governor be put on hold till the probe into the Ankita Bhandari murder case is complete. Several senior leaders including former Chief Minister Harish Rawat were among 50 odd people to be detained.
Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal, former Minister Harak Singh Rawat and MLA Pritam Singh were also detained.
The Uttarakhand Congress began its protests a day after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) met Ankita’s parents, who were protesting at India Gate demanding justice for their daughter, and expressed solidarity with them.
Ankita, who was an employee at a resort in Uttarakhand, was murdered in September 2022.
Earlier, Mr. Godiyal said after Mr. Gautam was named the Governor of Sikkim, the Congress has been seeking time from the Governor to submit a memorandum.
“We have been seeking time from the Governor to submit a memorandum demanding Gautam’s resignation, but were not given time. Where are we supposed to raise this issue? Is there no administration in the State,” he asked.
The Congress leaders then tried to paste their memorandum outside the Lok Bhawan’s gate, alleging no one was there to accept their memorandum.
They later submitted it to someone at Lok Bhawan.
Mr. Rawat said it was unfortunate that no one was willing to accept a memorandum from senior leaders of a political party.
“We are not even demanding that we want to submit it to the governor, it can be anyone from the governor’s office. We had no plan to protest, we just wanted to submit the memorandum. It has been submitted now and we will decide the next course of action.”
Before the protest, the Congress leaders addressed the media and said their stir will continue in the State till Mr. Gautam is removed from the Governor’s post.
“Before her death, Ankita had spoken of pressure being exerted on her to provide special services to a VIP and of a threat to her life. Even today, many serious questions in this case remain unanswered.
“Amid these allegations, appointing the person in question as the governor is an insult to Uttarakhand’s pride and public sentiments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must answer why decisive action has not been taken to deliver justice to Ankita,” Mr. Godiyal asked.
He added that Congress’ demand is clear: Justice for Ankita, punishment for the guilty, and no protection of any accused through positions of power.
Mr. Harish Rawat said this is a matter that touches upon the dignity, identity, and pride of all women in Uttarakhand.
“The questions being raised regarding the role of the alleged ‘VIP’ in this case must be answered, and the investigation must be brought to its logical conclusion. We strongly condemn the manner in which Ankita’s parents were taken into custody under the cover of darkness,” he said.
Her parents staged a protest near India Gate on Wednesday (October 14, 2026), demanding that Mr. Gautam’s appointment as the Sikkim Governor be put on hold until the ongoing CBI probe into their daughter’s murder case is complete. They were detained and released this morning.
Published – October 15, 2026 07:03 pm IST
